A devotional song is a hymn which accompanies religious observances and rituals. Traditionally devotional music has been a part of Christian music, Hindu music, Sufi music, Buddhist music, Islamic music and Jewish music. Each major religion has its own tradition with devotional hymns.
In India, devotionals can function as communion prayer and meditation. These are sung in particular rhythms which are sustained over a prolonged period to give practitioners a mystical experience. In Hindu music, the genre arising out of the Bhakti movement (devotion), it takes forms like Bhajans, Kirtans and Aartis.